Preston Estep

Founder and Chief Scientist at Rapid Deployment Vaccine Collaborative (RaDVaC)

Preston Estep is a prominent biologist and entrepreneur, currently serving as the Chief Scientist and founder of the Rapid Deployment Vaccine Collaborative (RaDVaC). This organization is notable for being the first-ever open-source vaccine project, established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. RaDVaC aims to create rapid-response vaccines and has made its formulations publicly available for production and self-administration.1 2 3

Academic Background

Estep earned his Ph.D. in Genetics from Harvard University, where he conducted research under the guidance of genomics pioneer George M. Church. He completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University, focusing on biology and neurobiology.3

Career Highlights

Veritas Genetics: Prior to his work with RaDVaC, Estep co-founded and served as Chief Scientific Officer at Veritas Genetics, a company recognized for breaking the $1000 genome sequencing barrier.1 3
Advisory Roles: He is a senior adviser to the Personal Genome Project and has provided guidance to various biotech startups, including Nebula Genomics and Volta Labs.1
Publications and Advocacy: Estep is also an author, known for his book The Mindspan Diet, which discusses factors influencing longevity. He frequently speaks on topics related to genomics and aging.1 3

Contributions to Vaccine Development

In March 2020, Estep founded RaDVaC with a mission to develop vaccines quickly during the pandemic. The initiative emphasizes transparency by sharing all vaccine formulations online, allowing others to replicate their work without patent restrictions.4 5 His approach includes self-experimentation, having tested initial vaccine formulations on himself before involving colleagues.3 4

Research Interests

Estep's research interests extend into aging and longevity, where he has been critical of certain anti-aging claims and strategies that he believes lack substantial scientific backing. He advocates for innovative approaches to understanding and potentially mitigating aging processes.3 5

Overall, Preston Estep's contributions to biotechnology and public health through RaDVaC reflect a commitment to open science and rapid innovation in response to global health challenges.